BUFFER Act
The BUFFER Act would authorize the Secretary of Transportation (through the Federal Transit Administration) to issue regulations and guidance allowing certain regional transportation planning organizations (RTPOs) to increase their spare bus ratio to 30 percent upon request. A spare bus ratio is the share of buses kept in reserve to cover outages or maintenance so regular service can continue, especially during disruptions. To qualify for the increase, RTPOs must certify that they regularly experience extreme weather, describe how such weather has disrupted bus operations, and explain how a higher spare ratio would help maintain reliable fixed-route service. The bill frames extreme weather as a driver of higher maintenance needs and service disruptions, aiming to improve resilience in regions with high-frequency/high-intensity service and areas tied to tourism and live entertainment.
Key Points
- 1The Act creates a mechanism to raise the spare bus ratio to 30 percent for eligible regional planning bodies, upon request.
- 2The Secretary of Transportation, via the Federal Transit Administration, must issue regulations and guidance within one year of enactment to implement this increase.
- 3Eligibility requires: (1) certification that the region regularly experiences extreme weather; (2) a description of how extreme weather has disrupted bus operations; (3) a description of how a higher spare ratio would improve reliability during extreme weather.
- 4The rationale emphasizes protecting vulnerable riders during extreme weather and supporting regions with high service demand, including tourism and entertainment hubs.
- 5The bill provides the framework but does not specify funding, implementation details, or penalties beyond the regulatory guidance to be issued.